“When Susanna Jones wears red, a queen from some time-dead Egyptian night walks once again.” – Langston Hughes
Dark-skinned women have been failing the same old paper-bag test for years. Slavery was the main catalyst for the idea that shades closer to white were more attractive. Boxed in by meek colors, many with dark skin feel insecure about exploring the color palette.
Sadly, they like the ones that instilled those thoughts are mistaken.
“Women should understand the color wheel!” said freelance make up artist Keyonna Stewart. “Know if your undertone is cool, color friendly or warm color friendly. Darker skin tones tend to be more appealing with cooler colors such as plums and berries vs. true blood red or a warmer red with orange twist… like a sunburst red of some sort.”
She added, “If you’re a darker skin tone and want to use a true red, make sure it compliments the color by having a cool eye and not warm on top of warm… We must mix to create depth and dimension on the face.”
The shades of red, pink and purple for makeup are endless. The most important thing is to find the right shade for your tone.
- Reds: Explore deep shades of red. Wine colors look great at night.
- Purples: Go with deep plum to almost chocolate colored.
- Pinks: Anything from pale pink to magenta looks hot! Try Mac’s “Impassioned” shade.
Remember, don’t throw lipsticks away that don’t quite work, lip liner is a forgiving and easy way to change color. Also, don’t forget to gloss!
The first step is to get over the fear of wearing bright bold colors. If you have fuller lips, you have more of a reason to wear colors that accentuate your beautiful features. Don’t shy away, embrace and remember to have fun.
